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INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN & EFFECTIVE
POLICING IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT
PRESENTATION BY MAJOR GENERAL SC MFAZI SAPS RESEARCH COLLOQUIUM
7 TO 9 FEB 2017
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. BACKGROUND
3. EXPLORATION OF POLICING CONCEPTS:
3.1 Rural & Semi Rural Areas
3.2 Urban & Semi Urban Areas
3.3 Hostel Dwellings
3.4 Informal Settlements
3.5 Blocks of Flats
4. CLOSING REMARKS
Section
1 INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Policing in South Africa has been a debate that is always provoking arguments that
are not coming up with answers or solutions and that is why the South African Police
Service Research Unit has sponsored this discussion paper. In this paper we are
trying to provoke discussion on the issues raised by the subject above and seek for
possible solutions.
This exercise is being informed by the fact that there is an unending imperative
requirement on constant review of policies in the organisation to assist quality.
When an organisation is faced with situations where it is supposed to respond on
specific challenges that it is faced with, firstly it has to do sole searching so as to be
able to respond accordingly to those challenges / questions.
Section
BACKGROUND
Background
The socio-economic situation that has been created by the past history of
this country makes it difficult to police remote areas, high density areas,
areas with no proper infrastructure and congested areas. Thus it is
imperative for constant self-searching so as to be able to respond
accordingly to challenges.
The constant complaints from the farming communities together with
traditional leaders with regard to high rates of crime in rural and semi-rural
areas, also coupled with complaints from civil society, religious leaders and
communities both urban and semi-urban areas, is a clear testimony of the
fact that there is a problem with crime in our country.
Cont….Background
The recent statistics of the preceding 3 financial years are clearly
showing that we are faced with challenges of serious and violent
crimes in areas where there is more informal settlements and hostel
dwellings - a good example is Nyanga Township in the Western
Cape.
Also in areas where there are flats we usually experience more drug
related crimes, contact and property crimes coupled with gang
related crimes that are very violent. This also impacts on the moral
fibre of society like Manenberg area in the Western Cape.
Section
EXPLORATION OF POLICING
CONCEPTS
Exploration of Policing
Concepts
This discussion paper has been put together so that issues to be raised
should assist in various Legislations and Operational Concepts that are
supposed to assist Policing in the South African context:
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 f 1996)
National Development Plan 2030 – (NDP)
National Crime Prevention Strategy
White Paper on Safety and Security
National Crime Combatting Strategy
South African Police Service Act, 1995 (Act No 68 of 1995)
National Instruction 1/2002 : South African Reserve Police Service
Cont….Exploration of Policing
Concepts
National Instruction 3/2009 Sector Policing
The Comprehensive Rural Development Programme Framework, Version1 : July 2009
The South African Police Service Interim Regulation for Community Police Forums and Boards
Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No 51 of 1977)
The Protocol for Access to Farms, 2002
Rural Safety Strategy
Rural Safety Plan
Organised Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA)
Intelligence Led Policing
Back to Basics
The purpose of this discussion is to assist the South African Police Ser to employ new methods of policing
taking into account the rural development and rural development and urbanisation of our country. Also to
assist policing in both rural, semi rural, urban and semi urban, informal settlement, dwellings and blocks of
flats, looking at environmental design.
Cont…Exploration of Policing
Concepts
NOTE: Intelligence Led Policing is a better policing option in the South African context. We
need to do a review of the transformation programme that will be based on a scientific and
proper research process so as to allow the government to take informed decisions by
establishing colleges / academies for both Detectives and Crime Intelligence as to make the
concept of Intelligence Led Policing to be properly understood for better implementation by both
components of the SAPS.
For the purposes of making our discussion to flow properly we will need to understand as to
what are the problems that make policing not to be effective in the following mentioned areas.
3.1 Rural & Semi Rural Areas
A low population density in rural and semi rural areas means that
individuals have less constant contact with one another due to its
vastness; and that limits communities to have less access to proper
policing and quality services to our people on issues that relate to crime.
In most instances stations are very small to accommodate specialised
services.
Farmers, farm workers and residence within these communities are
considered soft targets by criminals due to, among other things:
remoteness of farms / localities,
high value of property,
long distances between farms and villages, and
inaccessibility to police because of poor roads and poor
infrastructure.
Cont… Rural & Semi Rural
Areas
The conditions and the nature of crime that is taking place in the rural areas,
necessitates that there should be and affective and efficient way of implementing the following existing concepts ie:
National Rural Safety Strategy Concept
Sector Policing Concept
Community Policing Concept
Integrated Development Plan – (Local Government Plan)
Also we need to take note of the following inhibiting factors that are applicable in
these types of areas.
con/… Rural, Semi Rural
Areas
Environmental design
No proper communication
Houses are not numbered
Roads are in bad condition
There is no proper lighting
Travelling distance from localities and the station
Houses are scattered far from the Police Station
Distance in between when responding to complaints
Lack of mode of transport to the station
cont… Rural, Semi Rural
Areas
Poverty and unemployment
People are committing crime under the pretext that they are hungry
People idling unemployed thus they are committing crime
Relationship between commercial farms and rural community
Very bad
Commercial farmers do not recognise the existence of rural communities with all the
traditions and culture, also rural community does not recognise commercial farmers.
Cont…Rural, Semi Rural
Areas
Non participation of local authority
Not being recognised by government structures
They are not keen to participate
Tribal authorities lack understanding for the amount of authority they have; and how to use it to
influence decision making.
Unavailability or lack of specialised units
They are a distance away from rural stations
Limit numbers at the stations
Community involvement in policing in structures
Lack of participation due to illiteracy
Cases are not reported because they avoid to go to court
Non participation in community based structures
Unable to provide proper statements therefore I will not report the case
Cont…Rural, Semi Rural
Areas
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Environmental design
Engage local authorities to address localised issues
Seek for integrated solutions to the problems
Travelling distance from localities and the station
Satellite Policing station locate to Headmen areas; or
Integrate it with government structures in that particular locality; or
Establish nodal points in the farming communities
Poverty and unemployment
Create jobs that will bring about poverty alleviation.
Social Crime prevention should participate in programmes with other stake holders in trying to create
opportunism for our people
Relationship between commercial farms and rural community
Strong CPF structures
Social Crime Prevention convene in Imbizo’s and other related activities
Cont…Rural, Semi Rural
Areas
Non participation of local authority
Engagement at local government level
Role of the station commander in convening other stake holders
Participation in JOINT structures at cluster level
Involvement of traditional leaders at local activities
Unavailability or lack of specialised units
Built capacity at station level
Put more personnel – review of RAG
Community involvement in policing in structures
Establish forums where awareness programmes are being conducted - social crime
prevention programmes, imbizo’s etc
While this hardly means an absence of conflict, the dynamics of rural crime and violence often
necessitates different police practices.
3.2 Urban & Semi Urban
Areas
Urbanisation is defined as a percentage of the country’s population living in
urban areas which are mainly cities and towns.
The majority of the population in South Africa live in our cities and towns and
it is here in these areas that the vulnerability to crime and all its related
negative features is most felt. These high levels of crimes are prevalent due
to different risk factors which are common in urban and semi-urban areas
and they include:
Unemployment
Substance and alcohol abuse
Availability of guns
Broken families
cont…Urban, Semi Urban
Areas
Extensive commerce, trade and businesses contribute to crime problems
in urban areas.
Urban areas are different from semi urban and rural areas in that they
have a greater population density and generally have a higher
concentration of economic activities.
The presence of banks and other institutions for securing cash and
valuables can lead to large and small scale robberies like
CIT’s,
ATM Bombings
Business Burglaries etc.
cont…Urban, Semi Urban
Areas
These financial and commercial institutions make urban areas ideal places in which to profit from the sale of illegal goods such as narcotics, illegal firearms and stolen goods. The dense and unemployed population is used to sustain such illegal activities which then lead to syndicated activities posing serious challenges to effective policing.
The presence of good road networks and ports of entry facilities can turn many urban areas into entry / exit points for the facilitation of contraband and make it easier for international drug smuggling to thrive.
Harbours
Airports & Small landing strips
Land borders
Other facilities such as bus terminals, railway stations and taxi ranks assist in the furthering of criminal activities locally, provincially and nationally.
Large populations of desperate and poverty stricken people can
generate conditions that will support drug abuse and human trafficking.
High population concentration of people can also contribute to
demonstrations and political violence due to the closeness of media
offices which can create conditions attractive to those wanting to
engage in acts of violent protests. It is very easy to attract large crowds
due to the dense population in urban areas as opposed to semi urban
and rural areas.
Cities and towns are major centres of national political life, and protests
can easily turn into riots during difficult service delivery agitation which
again poses challenges to policing.
cont…Urban, Semi Urban
Areas
Urban areas often have a comparatively extensive police presence like:
Flying Squad & Highway Patrol
Airwing & Waterwing
K9
TRT
POPS
Policing in semi urban and rural areas may not be able to reach crime
scenes quickly and may not be able to establish a regular presence.
Often the only police presence is a small rural police station with very
few resources.
cont…Urban, Semi Urban
Areas
cont… Urban & Semi Urban
Areas
The areas of Gelvandale and Bethelsdorp in the economic hub of
Port Elizabeth in our province can be described as urban. These
areas are plagued by gang violence, drug proliferation and a general
defiance of laws.
In these areas, several socio-economic factors are prevalent and
they add to these types of crimes mentioned above:
Unemployment
Perpetual poverty
Low education levels
Alcoholism
cont… Urban & Semi Urban
Areas
Drug Abuse
Overcrowded households
Lack of housing
Child headed households
Breakdown of families
Teenage pregnancies
Inadequate recreation facilities
cont… Urban & Semi Urban
Areas
These are ideal breeding grounds for drug lords and gang leaders to cause entire communities
to become dependent on them.
It is quite clear that only an “integrated total government approach” would be able to address
the drug and gang problem in this specific area. Key to addressing this scourge is prevention
through environmental design where all spheres of government are involved viz:
Department of Social Development
Department of Education
Departments in the Justice Cluster
COGTA
Department of Sports and Recreation
3.3 Hostel Dwellings
In direct contrast to the informal settlements, hostels pose different policing challenges.
Historically the hostels exist as a direct result of urbanisation or forced removals for the
purposes of labour markets that see people from different backgrounds, cultures, languages,
sharing one building and in some instances one big room.
Structural design of hostel buildings is making them fertile grounds for manifestation of
opposing youth groupings that identify with different building blocks and end up fighting each
other. In closed community hostels where drugs and illegal firearms exchange hands easily
amongst the youth, it is a breeding ground for faction fights and gangsterism.
cont… Hostel Dwellings
This is where gangs fight over drug dealings in the form of sporadic shootings and planned assassinations.
These barbaric activities deprive the hostel communities of day-to-day normal way of life which civilized
communities enjoy elsewhere like schooling and going to church.
To counter or reverse this situation, you need to combine all the four methods or techniques of crime
prevention, namely
Visible policing
Patrols
Roadblocks
Raids
But the main challenge is sustenance as this requires a lot of police resources otherwise these criminal acts
flare up whenever the police leave the area.
In addressing these challenges one needs to take into account the following issues viz:
Environmental design
Convert hostels into proper structures and turn them into family units
Ensure that there is proper lighting
Design the units in such a way that there is proper access control – easy to gain access
Improve relationship between the police and hostel community
Involvement in CPF structures
Have anti-crime activities
Involve them into social crime prevention structures
Recognition of induna’s
Address the issue of unemployment
Create job opportunities
Develop programmes that will make them employable
Partnership with other government departments
Address the issue of cultural differences
Address the issue of faction fighting
Address the culture of violence
con/… Hostel Dwellings
3.4 Informal Settlements
This is not an easy area to police because of challenges of environmental design. These are the areas were most
of the serious and violent crimes and other contact crimes are being generated.
However in the informal settlements, the lack of infra-structure in the form of formal streets, street lights and formal
demarcation render some of these techniques almost impossible. For instance: -
Visible Policing refers to the constant presence of the police in the community and on the streets.
The community must be aware of the presence of the police officials while they are performing their policing
functions.
Crime Prevention to be effective requires an environment where its four methods ie Visible Policing, Patrols,
Roadblocks and Raids are possible to implement.
Visible Policing includes but is not limited to:
enforcing the law at street level by arresting criminals
becoming familiar with specific areas - which will allow the police officials to identify criminal activities.
But lack of accessibility to informal settlements does not make this easy.
con/… Informal Settlements
If a policeman on patrol is required to communicate or interact with members of the public so as to
source information pertaining to criminal activities and perpetrators thereof, the challenge in this is any
person seen as associated with police in such areas is treated with suspicion and in some instances
might be targeted.
This is exacerbated by service delivery protests which are the order of the day in the informal settlements
where in some instances lead to confrontation and running battles with the police.
The aim of a roadblock is to:
restrict movement of criminals
transportation of prohibited goods (drugs, illegal firearms, etc); and
stolen property.
However due to lack of formal access roads, setting up of roadblocks is not practical in such areas.
Serious and violent crimes are committed in these areas which becomes a huge problem by entities such as: Gangs Shebeens
Vigilantism groups
An integrated approach in addressing issues of informal settlements is required : -
Environmental design
Address the issues of shacks which are cramped together – no spaces in between Create an environment so that there is easy access for vehicles to these localities
Make sure that CCTV cameras work well and are serviced Ensure that there are visible numbering of shacks and street names
Crime Prevention to be effective Create an environment where its four methods are possible to implement ie Visible
Policing, Patrols, Roadblocks and Raids
More interaction with the communities bring trust, respect, understanding, confidence; complaints / information given freely – Police on the beat
Ensure that liquor outlets, shebeens, brothels conform to regulations and by laws and the policing of criminal activities ie: firearms, narcotics etc.
con/… Informal Settlements
3.5 Block of Flats
In contrast to the informal settlements and hostel dwellings, block of flats pose different policing challenges.
Historically these exist as a result of urbanisation and for the purposes of labour markets that saw people from
different backgrounds, cultures, languages, sharing homes in one small area.
Because of economic prospects and lack of affordable accommodation in the urban areas, blocks of flats have
become a focus area which is exploited for easy living conditions - hence overcrowding
Living in overcrowded areas with inadequate ventilation and ablution facilities causes a breeding ground for
diseases because of the unhygienic conditions. This also causes an extra living and financial burden on the
occupants.
The psychological effects of living in these confined areas and not having access to wide open spaces / privacy
aid in the manifesting of problematic scenarios eg:
Domestic Violence
Alcoholism
Child Abuse
Structural designs of blocks of flats makes them fertile grounds for manifestation of opposing youth groupings that
identify with different flats and end up fighting each other.
This type of living becomes a breeding ground for gangsterism as drugs, alcohol and firearms exchange hands
freely amongst the youth.
con/… Block of Flats
One needs to take into account the following issues In addressing these challenges viz:
Environmental design
The construction of recreational facilities and parks for the use occupants
Ensure that there is proper lighting
Have adequate parking facilities
Design the units in such a way that there is proper access control – security
Create more affordable accommodation in urban areas
Improve relationship between the police and flat community
Involvement in CPF structures
Have anti-crime activities
Involve them into social crime prevention structures
Address the issue of overcrowding
Proper regulated block of flats in reference to occupancy
Regular inspections by landlords / state agents
Partnership with other government departments
Address the issue of cultural differences
Address the issue of faction fighting
Address the culture of violence
Address the problem of substance and family abuse
Address the unhealthy living conditions
Section
CLOSING REMARKS
Closing remarks
Solutions to the policing challenges do not solely lie on the door step of the South African Police Service.
Interaction with partners and other stake holders are key:
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS
BAC
SABRIC
AGRI SA
To be successful or effective policing requires involvement and commitment of all stake holders. Yes, the
police must play a leading role by:
Fighting corruption within the institution
Involvement of communities in fighting structured crime.
Partnership is the key where the police form partnerships or cooperation with community, the business
sector (Business Against Crime), non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) interested groups, churches,
individuals and other government departments. This could be seen as being similar to community policing.
Review the role of CPF’s in crime fighting.
Availability of resources at station level.
Proper allocation of resources
The role of Traditional authorities, Chiefs, Headmen and Induna’s should be recognised as well as
aligning the National Development Plan 2030 with the Polices’ long term plan.
To enhance existing crime prevention police techniques a three pillar approach must be developed
focussing on the criminal justice system, environmental design and education.
PILLAR 1
The criminal justice must provide a sure and clear deterrent for criminals and reduce the risks of
reoffending by:
Professionalism in speciality areas – detectives, community policing
ensuring heavier and longer sentences on criminals
reviewing law enforcement policies to compliment judicial system – human rights, by-laws etc.
constant broadcast / communication on convictions of criminals transgressing the law of the
country
con/… Closing remarks
PILLAR 2
Reducing crime through environmental design focuses on designing systems to reduce the
opportunity for crime and make it easier to detect and identify criminals.
convert hostel dwellings into family homes
leading role by local government
installation of CCTV cameras
well lit up areas - storage areas, dumpsters, recycling areas, recreation areas, pathways, roads
maximum use of open spaces – non use of spaces attracts opportunity for loitering, squatting and
vandalism
utilization of intelligence – important in both operations & investigations
con/… Closing remarks
PILLAR 3
Public values and education initiatives aimed at changing the way communities react to crime and
violence. This approach involves programmes that educate and inform the public in order to facilitate
meaningful public participation in crime prevention.
community based policing – CPF’s, Sector Policing, Reservists
outreach & awareness programmes – Imbizo’s, Promotional ventures
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a multi-disciplinary approach designed to
deter criminals and they should ideally be coordinated by local government in collaboration with the
SAPS. Research has shown that a person can be prevented from committing crimes by making
changes to the physical environment which eventually leads him making changes to his behaviour.
con/… Closing remarks
con/… Closing remarks
Therefore CPTED is:
Changing the way communities / environment are designed to make it difficult for criminals to operate.
Redesign / upgrade existing designs with the intent to reduce opportunities for crime such as
to ensure potential problem areas limited.
In the end, however, our success will be measured on how partnerships are developed with
stakeholders - the communities we work in and who will eventually evaluate our work.
I am sure and confident, that plans put forward can work only with “buy in” and enforcement from everyone.
Thank you